ABL - Turret Ball Conformal Window

Laser weapons are still the stuff of science fiction, but the Pentagon is working to change that. One such weapon, now undergoing tests, is the Airborne Laser, a Boeing 747-400F that's being modified to deliver a beam that can knock missiles out of the sky.

Work on the ABL Beam Control/Fire Control subsystem is taking place at Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale, Calif. Here, a space systems engineer inspects the Turret Ball Conformal Window through which the laser beams will pass.

Published: July 19, 2006 -- 11:47 GMT (04:47 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Turret on 747

The turret ball assembly will be mounted on the nose of the aircraft. It will be the exit site for the high-energy laser intended to destroy missiles in flight and the return window for low-power lasers that will track the target and assess atmospheric conditions.

Published: July 19, 2006 -- 11:47 GMT (04:47 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

ABL in action

This is how the Pentagon envisions the ABL in action. The goal is to interdict missiles shortly after launch when they are in the vulnerable boost phase--and before they get close to U.S. soil.

Published: July 19, 2006 -- 11:47 GMT (04:47 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

747 at takeoff

The 747 in its current, nonweaponized state, at takeoff. A flight test with the low-power, solid-state lasers is set for later this year. The high-power chemical laser is still going through ground testing.

Published: July 19, 2006 -- 11:47 GMT (04:47 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Low-energy laser

At Lockheed Martin, an engineer checks the alignment of one of the low-energy laser's optics

Published: July 19, 2006 -- 11:47 GMT (04:47 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

High-energy COIL

This engineer is making an adjustment to the beam control optics from the chemical oxygen iodine laser (COIL). This missile-killing beam is expected to pack a megawatt-class punch.

Published: July 19, 2006 -- 11:47 GMT (04:47 PDT)

Caption by: Bill Detwiler

Missile defense system

The ABL is intended to be one element in an overall missile defense system for the U.S. Other elements will include satellite surveillance, radar tracking and interceptor missiles on the ground and at sea, with the goal of having more than one opportunity to hit enemy missiles in various stages of flight.